Rebel Trinamool MPs mull filing defamation suit against Mahua Moitra over her ‘libellous’ post

June 21, 2026

Kolkata: The group of 20 rebel Trinamool Congress’s Lok Sabha members, led by two four-time Lok Sabha members, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Stabdi Roy, who recently joined the virtually non-existent and Tripura-based National Citizens Party of India (NCPI), is considering filing a defamation suit against Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, over a recent “libellous” social media post by the latter against the rebel MPs.

Allegations Over Social Media Post

Recently, a controversy surfaced over a social media post by Mahua Moitra, who is continuing with her allegiance towards former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who is Trinamool Congress’s general secretary.

In her social media post, she had accused the two rebel Trinamool Congress MPs on social media of leaving the party and joining NCPI in exchange for money.

Moitra claimed that each one took at least Rs 40 crore to join the NCPI.

Reference to Other Political Defections

Recently, several MPs in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra have also rebelled. Rumours are that they are going to leave Thackeray and join the opposition Eknath Shinde’s camp. Sanjay Raut, of the Thackeray group, recently made a social media post accusing them of betrayal by taking Rs 15 crore.

Sharing the same post, Mahua Moitra launched a sharp attack against the 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, writing:

“Only Rs 15 cr? Saste mein kyo jaa rahe hai? Believe ours got Rs 4cr up front and Rs 1cr a month for next 36 months of term… Honey plus Money,” Moitra wrote on social media.

Rebel MPs Hold Virtual Meeting

It is learnt that the 20 rebel MPs, who are scattered in different parts of the country now, on Sunday afternoon held a virtual meeting, where the possibility of filing a defamation suit against Mahua Moitra was discussed.

Virtually confirming the possibility of legal action, Stabdi Roy said that they were considering the option. “Right now, I can say this much only,” Roy said.

Ongoing Political War of Words

Not just the rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, but also rebel party legislators in the West Bengal Assembly, have been facing sharp criticism on social media from Mahua Moitra for the last few days.

She has accused the rebel MPs and MLAs of betraying the Trinamool Congress after being elected on party tickets. She also said they should resign first before speaking against the party leadership.